After a runs-strapped battle in Gqeberha, batters hit their stride back in Centurion as a staggering 427 runs were scored from 40 overs. Eventually after an oscillating encounter, it was the Men in Blue who emerged victorious to seize a 2-1 lead. Winning the toss, South Africa opted to bowl and Marco Jansen served up a carving up front for the hosts with the big scalp of Sanju Samson.

Despite the fall of Samson without a run on the board, the Indian batters were quick to wrest back the reins as Abhishek Sharma (50) and Tilak Varma had no intentions to relent. Sharma smashed a 25-ball-50, whacking three fours and five sixes while Varma’s ruthless assault sent the hosts scrambling for shelter.

The duo added 107 runs for the second wicket before Keshav Maharaj got the better of Sharma while Andile Simelane struck to remove Suryakumar Yadav in quick succession in hope of applying the brakes. Despite the early jitters from Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma continued to rock and roll. It was Varma’s scorched earth masterclass that sent shivers down the spine of South Africa. A scintillating debut from Ramandeep Singh featuring 15 runs off just six balls allowed India to tot up 219/6 at the end of their 20 overs.

Tilak Varma stayed unbeaten for a monumental 107 from just 56 balls, clubbing eight fours and seven sixes while Andile Simelane and Keshav Maharaj were the pick of the Proteas bowling lot with four wickets between them at the expense of 72 runs.

Chasing 220, South Africa got their wheels in motion in no time whatsoever. Ryan Rickelton (20) and Reeza Hendricks (21) shifted gears early on. Arshdeep Singh got the better of Rickelton while Varun Chakravarthy claimed the wickets of Hendricks and Aiden Markram (29) to keep India fighting. Axar Patel’s strike of Tristan Stubbs (12) was also crucial for India to gun down the hosts.

An excellent display of power-hitting from Heinrich Klaasen (41) and Marco Jansen (54) allowed South Africa to blow life to the game as the Indian bowlers failed to find the right chord for a while. It was Arshdeep Singh who got India the much-needed reward in the form of Klaasen while Jansen’s valiant effort fell short as the Indian bowlers restricted South Africa to 208.

It was Arshdeep Singh who was the key architect of India’s clinical bowling display as he claimed figures of 3/37 while Tilak Varma won the Player of the Match award for his incredible century. India will be playing the last T20I of the series tomorrow which is slated to be played in the Wanderers.